The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 386: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BANK-NOTES 300 between him and Christian. Lord Rushbrook drove up at the time, and lent his aid, but the false Lascar managed his escape, and in a manner which created much surprise in the mind of my young friend Ashton. It further appeared that on a previous night this very same disguised Lascar stopped Lord Rushbrook and either did actually rob him or attempted to rob him, but which it really was I cannot say, for his lordship, perhaps from false pride, sought to hush up the matter. It is however Christian Ashton’s opinion that the viscount’s groom could tell more of the particulars of that case. The viscount begged Ashton not to mention at Tudor House a single syllable of any of these circumstances, and he advanced reasons which led Christian to promise compliance with this entreaty. But last evening Miss Ashton was herself waylaid by the same villain; fortunately, however, there was prompt succour at hand to rescue her, and the false Lascar escaped. It has now become so evident that the fellow is a most desperate and dangerous character that I represented to Ashton this morning that it was a positive duty to ignore Lord Rushbrook’s desire for secrecy and silence, and to put you on your guard, inasmuch as twice in your neighbourhood have this robber’s avocations been exercised. Whether you will mention all these things to Lady Anastatia is a matter for your own consideration.” “To be sure,” said Sir Frederick, whose heart sickened at the mere mention of Lady Anastatia’s name. ‘I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Redcliffe, for all this in- formation. Rushbrook has not said a word of either of those adventures, although I saw him yesterday — But how came it that he and Mr. Ashton should the night be- fore last have suffered the villain to escape them? ” “I have already hinted,” replied Mr. Redcliffe, ‘“ that the occurrence is somewhat a singular one. It appears that the false Lascar was completely in the power of Lord Rushbrook and our young friend Christian; they had hold upon his garments. All of a sudden the Lascar looked very hard at the viscount, and said these words, ‘ What about that safe and cash-box?’ whereupon the viscount suddenly let go his hold upon the villain; he broke away from Chris- tian, and thus escaped.”’ Sir Frederick Latham heard with a sudden astonishment EGOMINIGIOOKS (CO)